ThemajorityHanChinesehavelongfollowedthetraditionofeatinglabariceporridgeontheeighthdayofthetwelfthlunarmonth。ThedateusuallyfallsinminJanuaryandisatraditionalChinesefestival。 LegendabouttheoriginofthisfestivityaboundsOnemaintainsthatover3,000yearsagosacrificialriteswereheldinthetwelfthlunarmonthwhenpeopleoffereduptheirpreytothegodsofheavenandearth。TheChinesecharactersforthehuntandthetwelfthmonth(lieandla)wereinterchangeablethen,andeversincelahasbeenusedtorefertoboth。Sincethefestivalwasheldontheeighthdayofthelastmonth,peoplelaterappendedthenumbereighth(bainChinese),givingusthecurrentlaba。 BuddhismwaswellacceptedintheareasinhabitedHanChinese,whobelievedthatSakyamuni,thefirstBuddhaandfounderofthereligion,attainedenlightenmenton128。Sutraswerechantedinthetemplesandriceporridgewithbeans,nutsanddriedfruitwaspreparedfortheBuddha。Withtimethecustomextended,especiallyinruralareaswherepeasantswouldprayforaplentifulharvestinthisway。 Thereis,however,anothertouchingstory。WhenSakyamuniwasonhiswayintothehighmountainsinhisquestforunderstandingandenlightenment,hegrewtiredandhungry。Exhaustedfromdaysofwalking,hepassedintounconsciousnessbyariverinIndia。Ashepherdessfoundhimthereandfedhimherlunch。